Nathan overcame his challenges 

Few people have grown with Little City’s Autism Spectrum Engagement (ASE) program as much as Nathan.  

When Nathan first came to Little City almost 10 years ago, he struggled with emotional regulation. He would hit walls or himself, or damage items in the room as he grew frustrated over things he struggled to express. Like most in the ASE program, Nathan is almost fully non-verbal, and communication is a major barrier.  

“He was going through two major changes when he first came to Little City – joining the day program and moving into the residential program,” said Glenda Dike, Life Skills Supervisor. “It was a lot for him to handle and he would get aggressive and angry.” 

But it didn’t take long for him to turn a corner thanks to the ASE program. Glenda, who has been with Little City nearly 20 years, has worked as a DSP in both the traditional day program and the ASE program. She said the higher staff-to-participant ratio in ASE, the pace of the day, and individual attention is what allowed Nathan to progress where he would have struggled in the traditional day program.  

The program started in a classroom at the Center for Employment & Business Opportunities (CEBO) where Nathan first discovered his passion for art. He became independent enough to walk from CEBO to the Center for the Arts next door without one-on-one staff assistance.  

Now at the Countryside Center, Nathan has grown even more, having gone from refusing to go on even small community outings to embracing even the biggest experiences – including a trip to the Shedd Aquarium that was once thought impossible for him.  

As we’ve highlighted here in this edition of Little City, Big Picture, our ASE program has the opportunity to expand into a larger space onsite that would make room for 5 individuals on our waitlist. 

Because of your support, the accessibility and empowerment provided to Nathan through our ASE program has helped him overcome his challenges. Now, this expansion will increase the size of the program and offer greater opportunities for physical activities, recreation, and sensory experiences, so more people like Nathan can thrive. 

Glenda said the life-changing difference is clear in Nathan and the expansion of the ASE program will help more people who need this service.  

“We have been at max capacity for quite a while and  we see more and more people come to visit with loved ones who are non-verbal and need this level of support,” Glenda said. “The need for the program just continues to grow.”